Formaldehyde-lamp.



Patented lan. I5, |901.

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

n. P. KUHN. FOBMALDEHYDE LAMP.

(Application led June 22, 1900.)

W/ TNESSES (No Medel.)

No. 666,|03. Patented lan. I5, I90I.

R. P. KUHN. FonwmLnEm/ns LAMP. f'fApplimion med .rune 22, 19o '0.)

2 Sheets-Shee 2,

(No Model.)

/N VEN TOI? THE cams percus co. pHoro-LITNQ.. wAsMmcn'oN. n. c.

NrrED STATES 13A'14`IENTd FUYCE RICHARD P. KUHN, OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR IO KUHN FORMALDEHYDE GENERATING COMPANY, OF VIRGINIA.

FO RMALDEHYDE- LAIVI P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666.103, dated January 15, 1901.

Application filed J une 22, 190i). Serial No. 21.209- (No model.)

To MZ whom it may con/cem,.- sition it is held during the heating of the Be it known that I, RICHARD P. KUHN, replatinized diaphragm. Fig. 2 is a vertical secsiding at Alexandria, in the county of Alextion of the lamp, the parts being in position andria and State of Virginia, have invented to generate formaldehyde. Fig. 3 is a hori- 55 5 certain new and useful Improvements in Forzontal section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. maldehyde-Lamps, of which the followingis a Fig. 4 is a similar section on the line 4 4 of speciiication. Fig. 2, the oxidizing-chamber being shown This invention is in the nature of an imswung laterally, the muffler-plate being proved means for generating formaldehyde shown inits operating position forchoking the 6o IO gas, and the same more particularly refers to burner-llame.

that type of generating-lamp disclosed in my In its practical construction my present Patent No. 599,849, dated March l, 1898. form of formaldehyde-lamp comprises generL My present invention seeks to provide cerally a base, in which is held a burner-pau, an tain improvements having for their purpose oxidizing-chamber detachably mounted over 65 r 5 to simplify the construction of my patented the burner-pan and held for vertical adjustlamp, cheapen the cost of manufacture, and ment, means being also provided for holding render it more effective in its use. the said oxidizing-chamber in its vertical ad- My present invention comprehends in its justed positions and for permitting the said complete make-up a novelarrangement of the cha mberbeing swung laterally in a horizontal 7o zo upper diaphragm-holder or oxidizing-champlane, said oxidizing-chamber being pivotally berand its peculiar combination with the base supported over the burner-pan in such manor burner portion, whereby the oxidizing or ner that the said chamber can be readily generating chamber can be quickly and conswung laterally when lifted up to a point veniently raised vertically and swung laterabove the burner-pan.

2 5 ally in a horizontal plane to allow for a ready Referring now to the details of construcaccess to the burner, and it also includes a tion, 1 designates a suitably-shaped and orsimple means for adjustably supporting the namented base provided with an annular inoxidizing-chamber, having the platinized diaternal rim la, which forms a supporting-ledge phragm over the burner during the operation for the outturned rirn 2a of the water-pau 2. 8o

30 of heating the diaphragm. Within the pan 2 is held a burner-pan 3, said Again, this invention seeks to provide an pan being of a diameter less than that of the improved arrangement of oxidizing or generwater-pan 2, whereby a water-space 4 is proatng chamber, whereby a greater percentage vided which surrounds the burner-pan, as of formaldehyde gas is obtainable than is caclearly shown in Fig. 2, by reference to which 8 5 35 pable of being produced by the construction it will also be observed the bottom of the of parts disclosed in my patented lamp aforeburner-pan does not extend down to the botsaid, the said improved construction of oxi- 4tom of the pan 2, such arrangement producdizing-chamber also including a pair of coning a water-space 4 under the burner-pan, ical platinized diaphragms having for their which communicates through a series of open- 9o 4o purpose to provide an increased area of heatings 4b with the Water-'space 4, the reason for absorbing surface Without increasing the diwhich will presently appear. ameter of the body of the oxidizing-chamber. 5 designates the body portion of my lamp,

In its more subordinate -features my invenwhich is formed of sheet metal and is prefertion consists in certain details of construction ably cylindrical, its lower end being of a di- 95 45 and novel arrangement of parts, which will ameter to snugly extend down into the annuhereinafter be fully explained and particular Water-space surrounding the burner when larly pointed out in the appended claims, refthe parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2. erence being had to the accompanying draw- It is my practice in constructing the lamp ings, in whichto make the lower part of the body 5 (indi 5o Figure l is a perspective view of my lamp, cated at 5a) of copper, so that that portion of the oxidizing-chamber being shown in the pothe body 5 surrounding the burner will remain very hot for a considerable length of time, thereby not alone aiding by reason of radiantheat to assist in evaporating the woodspirit, but also serve to warm the water surrounding lthe. pan, which by reason of its circulation under the bottom of the burner also becomes thoroughly heated and in consequence serves to help evaporate the wood-alcohol contained in the burner.

In my present form of lamp I provide two pervious catalytic diaph ragms-an upper one 6 and a lower one 7-both of which have a conical shape with their apexes uppermost, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. 'The object in making the diaphragms conical is twofold-first, it provides an increased heat collecting and reiecting surface, and, secondly, such form of diaphrams serve as draft-cones. per diaphragm 6 has its base of a diameter equal that of the body 5, said base being supported upon an inturned swaged rim 5l, forming a part of the said body 5. The lower disk 7 prevents a too great concentration of the radiant or reflected heat-rays upon the burner, and the said diaphragm 7 is of a less diameter than the diaphragm 6 to permit a free circulation of the heat and draft between the diaphragm 6 and the burner. The diaphram 7 has its upper face platinized, the upper face being so treated to maintain the radiant heat qualities thrown off by the diaphragm 6.

From practical experience I have found the double-diaphragm arrangement above described and illustrated in large-sized lamps very desirable, as the radiant heat from the upper disk is often Very intense and by the concentration of the saturated filling in the burner-pan frequently produces combustion. This is avoided by reason of said rays being deected by the lowermost diaphragm 7.

The diaphragm 7 is supported upon crossbraces 8, and said diaphragm 7, together with the diaphragm 6, is held steady in itsposition by the vertical rod 9, the lower diaphragm 7 being further braced by cleats l0, secured to the brace 8, as shown.

Tosupply the necessary oxygen the body 5 has a' series of perforations ll at a point between the two diaphragms 6 and 7.

12 denotes a standard projected up from the base l, which forms a supporting member for the body 5 when elevated, the said body 5 having a vertical apertured lug 13 at one side, adapted to engage with and slide upon the standard 12,said lug havinga clampscrew 13 whereby to clamp the body on the standard when raised to any of its vertical laterally away from the base to allow for easy l access to the burner-pan, as illustrated in The up- Fig. 4, to permit the use of the small mufflerplate l5 for extinguishing the flame of the burner,) I do not desire to confine myself to such means for supporting the body 5, as any other equivalent devices may beused for the same purpose.

The upper part of the body 5 is open, and for neatness in design an ornamental slotted casting-plate 16 is made fast thereto, to which is secured a handle 17 for conveniently lifting the lamp from place to place, it being also understood that when the parts arefitted in position for generating gas, as shown in Fig. 2, a suitable spring-catch 18, made fast to the base, will lock the said body 5 to the base.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the'operation and advantages of my improved lamp will be readily apparent.

InV use,.to generate the gaseous formaldehyde, the operator ignites the wood-alcohol in the burner-pan and adjusts the body 5 to the position shown in Fig. 1, said body being held sufficiently high above the pan to allow for free air circulation to insure the proper combustion at the burner. This position of parts is maintained until the diaphragms have been heated to the degree desired, when the body 5 is turned laterally to the position shown in Fig. t to allow the operator quickly placing the muffler-plate 15 over the burnerpan and smothering the flame. This being done, vthe body is then swung back over the pan and dropped down to the position shown in Fig. 2. The radiant heat from the platinized disks 6 and 7, assisted by the heated water in pan 2, is then sufficient to produce an evaporation of the wood-spirit in the burner-pan, which, coming in contact with oxygen admitted through the openings 1l and passing over the platinized faces of the disks 6 and 7, produces formaldehyde gas, that passes out through the diaphragm 6 and on through the open top of body 5.

My present type of lamp differentiates from my patented lamp particularly in the means for supporting the body 5 in its different vertical and lateral positions, in the means for heating the water sufficient to assist in evaporating the wood-spirit in the burner-pan, and the distinctive arrangement of the .diaphragm.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a formaldehyde-lamp of the character described, the combination with the oxidizing-chamber and the-burner arranged substantially as shown; of a platinized conical diaphragm held within the oxidizing-chamber, a second platinized diaphragm disposed between the first diaphragm and the burner, said second diaphragm being of a less diameter than the first diaphragm, whereby to de- IOS IIO

IZO

lect the heat-rays from the said first diaphragm, all being arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

2. In a lamp of the character described, the combination with the base having a burnerpan; oi a casing having an oxidizing-chamber, a platinized diaphragm held in the said chamber, said casing extending up from the base and adapted to normallyrest with its lower edge surrounding the burner-pan, means for supporting the said casing t-o permit its being moved in a vertical plane to bring its entire lower edge in a plane above the burner-pan, whereby to permit of the insertion of a muiiie-plate over the burner-pan, connecting devices for joining the said casing detachably with the base, said connecting devices including a pivotal joint to permit the said casing being swung laterally in a horizontal plane wh en the lower edge of the said casing is elevated in a plane above the burner-pan, substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

3. The combination in a lamp of the charaoter described, with the burner-pan, and the oxidizing-chamber arranged above the pan; of an upper perforated platinized diaphragm extending entirely across the oxidizing-chamber and a lower platinized diaphragm of less diameter than the upper diaphragm, and means for supporting the lower diaphragm over the burner-pan, as specified.

4. The combination with the base, the burner-pan 3, the oxidizing-chamber, said chamber being open at the top and having a series of air-inlets ata point above the burner, of a platinized perforated diaphragm 6, held within the oxidizing-chamber at a point above the air-inlets and the perforated platinized diaphragm 7, held over the burner and at a point between the aforesaid air-inlets and the burner, as specified.

RICHARD P. KUHN. Witnesses:

FRED G. DIETERICH, A. E. DIETERICH. 

